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AnAmericanflagthatflewatoponeofSaddamHussein’sformerpalaceshasbeengiventotheLancasterPoliceDepartmentasatokenofappreciation.ThepolicedepartmentsentseveralcarepackagesoverseastoU.S.ArmySgt.DavidFaris,whoservedinIraqfromNovember2006untilFebruary.Faris,22,workedinIraqasadatawallmanager,meaningheplottedeventsonahugemapandhelpedcategorizethoseoccurrences,suchasroadsidebombings.Thatinformationaidedothertroopsintheiroccupationefforts.Duringhisdeployment,whichFarisdescribedas“crazy,”italwaysfeltgoodtoreceivethosepackagesfrompeoplebackhome,hesaid.Hygieneproducts,snacksandgreetingcardswereusuallysomeoftheitemssent.FarissaidthepackagesfromtheLancasterPoliceDepartment’sDWatchshiftmeanalotbecausetheofficerstooktimeoutfromtheirdutiestoreachouttohim.“Itwastheideabehindit,”Farissaid.“Thefactthattheseguyscametogethermeansthattherearepeoplesupportingus.”Toshowhisappreciation,FarispresentedtheshiftwithacertificateandafoldedU.S.flagonWednesdayevening.TheflagflewatoptheformerAl-FawPalaceinBaghdad.ItwasoneofHussein’s99palacesandnowservesasthelocationofcampsVictoryandLiberty.Soldierstypicallygetthechancetoflyflagsoverthepalacetorecognizelovedonesorotherswhomeanalottothem.PoliceSgt.PaulSmith,theDWatchshiftleader,appreciatedgettingtheflagfromFaris. “Itwasahugehonor,”hesaid.Faris,Smithandseveralotherofficerstalkedaboutthebondthatexistsbetweensoldiersandpolice.Whilesoldiersareprotectingthenation,policeofficersarelookingoutforthesafetyofeveryonebackhome.SmithsaidtheLancasterPoliceDepartmenthasbeensendingcarepackagestosoldiersforthepastfiveyears.Foursoldiersreceivethepackageseachyear,andtwopackageswerejustsentouttosoldiersforEaster.Asfortheflag,thisisthesecondtimethatasoldierhaspresentedthepolicedepartmentwithone,Smithsaid.Likethefirst,thisflagwillhangalongawallintheMunicipalJusticeCenter.FarisfactsA2003RockHillHighSchoolgraduate,FarisjoinedtheU.S.ArmyinJuly2005.HeisnowstationedatFortHood,Texas,butwillmovetoFortGordon,Ga.,inJuly.Hewasnamedthe2007SoldieroftheYearbytheMulti-NationalCrops–Iraq.HeisthesonofKathyFaris,principalatIndianLandHighSchool.
ContactJesefWilliamsat283-1152orjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
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